The steering wheel moves from side to side especially at low speeds. The vehicle drives straight but there is some noise at higher speeds. Is this a bad tire or could it be a wheel bearing, ball joint or CV joint, or even the rack and pinion? How can I check it?
Could be your tie rods coming out of the rack and pinion and attached to the wheels. Grasp the tie rod near where it attaches to the wheel and see if you can shake, twist or move it. If you feel any play or looseness at all in the tie rod joint, then it is worn badly. Both outer tie rods at each wheel should be replaced. If the outer tie rods are tight, you can't move them with your hands, then have a shop check your inner tie rods for wear. Have them check the ball joints for wear, also. Or you can raise the wheel off the ground. Be safety conscious. Grab the tire at top and bottom. Can the tire move in and out, feel play in the lower ball joints? Any side to side play in the wheel? Maybe you can spot the looseness at the tie rod or balljoint. Maybe you'd better let a shop look at it.
A CV joint wouldn't have those symptoms. A wheel bearing possibly, but usually accompanied by a grinding noise. Have it checked out.
This kind of problem can be any moving part of the steering gear, that would be tie rod ends and of course the Rack assembly and the steering shaft that operates it. The wheel bearing would make a loud rumbling nose or roar if really bad but would not cause play, this also is true for the front tires. Most front end shops at tire retailers will do a free inspection of the front end, I suggest you have this done ASAP as driving with this much play in my opinion is not a very good idea safety wise.
SOURCE: 1998 ford explorer font end
Has the car been in an accident? You may have to replace the upper ball joints as well. And you will have to get an alignment after that. I would get the tire set correctly before I started changing bearings. Of course it may be that the bearing is so bad that that is what is causing the wheel to lean so badly?
With the car jacked up, can you move the wheel laterally - it should be very tight.
SOURCE: I drive a 2005 ford escape. The steering just will
how long have you had the car do you no the history? im asking this to elminate the possibility of it being a repairable right off,because in what you describe if the car has been in an accident and the chassis was damaged it may have been put on a straighner machine that pulls the twist out of the chassis this at times does not always bring the car back to original driving condtions therefore making the car steering out by a few degree,s
SOURCE: 2004 expedition, when brakes applied steering wheel vibrates
check the idler arm on the steering drag link
Testimonial: "Thanks I been busy I'll check it out this weekend and get back to you."
SOURCE: 2000 Ford Focus LX steering knuckle/ball joint
theres 2 ways too fix that!! one is get some brass shiw stock it comes in a roll get about .005 thick! wrap several layers around the knuckle pin where is goes into the socket and then tigthen it up that will remove the play also you can heat the socket with a torch and then take a hammer and shrink the hole opening but if you call beards salvage in tulsa okla they can and will sell/ship you one
Testimonial: "Good idea about wrapping the pinch bolt. thanks for the confidence boost on using a BFH to beat it tight, I thought it would work."
SOURCE: 4 wheel drive not engaging
CHECK FOR VACCUM AT THE HUB IF YOU HAVE VACCUM THEN ITS SOMEWHAT COMMON FOR THE LOCKING HUB TO WEAR
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